Tom Barnico has published a novel titled War College about the two lives of protagonist Jack Dunne, one in Army intelligence in Vietnam and the other as a student at an elite American college. Bridging these worlds challenges Jack as much as the war itself. His service sparks conflicts with his girlfriend, who protests the war at her women’s college, and among his teachers and fellow students, some of whom are violently anti-war. The story follows a road less traveled in Vietnam War fiction: a journey from campus to war and back by a student who served.

Sinai Gold, the second novel in Jeff Lelek’sSinai trilogy, is now available on Amazon and at any bookstore. Geologist Jake Tillard is back in Egypt, exploring for gold under the shadow of St. Catherine’s monastery. Evil forces from Russia and China provide resistance in this fictional thriller, which includes rich descriptions of locations around the world. When not writing, Jeff continues to travel, ski, golf, hike, bike, and enjoy his new granddaughter with his wife, Lesa.

In November Andy Moerlein was the special guest for a global seminar offered by the Viewing Stones Association of North America (VSANA). Andy and host Thomas Elias explored the world of small stones collected as aesthetic objects. This centuries-old practice began in Asia and spread across the world. Andy discussed many of the award-winning stones and stone displays from the 2020 Small Stone Contest sponsored by VSANA and featured in the newly published book, Small Stones Worlds Apart.

In her Color Theory Series of vinyl on aluminum panel, Elizabeth Michelman joins up with a new mentor, British abstract painter Howard Hodgkin. Kicking off Stuart Davis’ minimalist restraint, her dotted and angular collages channel Hodgkin’s seductive color and wild brushstrokes. “I want to work bigger than myself. Time is limited. Asking ‘How much is too much?’ pushes me further in my painting.” Elizabeth is exploring language in new video and installation and writes art criticism for ArtScope Magazine. View her work on Vimeo and Instagram: @michelmanelizabeth.

To all ’77s: get ready to rock and roll! The turntables will spin, the food and drinks will flow, and, most importantly, we will be together again for our—can you believe it?—45th reunion in Hanover! I hope you have seen announcements already for the date—June 16-19—but we will keep beating the drum until registration in early spring. We will begin at Pete V.’s home on Thursday night (after optional golf and hike up Moosilauke), enjoy a stations-style dinner on Friday (DOC House, we hope), and conclude Saturday on President Phil Hanlon’s lawn. Throughout the weekend we will celebrate conversations with friends old and new. We have a reunion committee in formation; please join us! And do reach out to your besties and encourage them to attend, even if for the first time—we are a welcoming group! Contact leslie.e.bradford@gmail.com (nee Embs).

—Robin Gosnell, 31 Elm Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540; robins.nest@icloud.com; Eric Edmondson, DC Advisory, 425 California St., Suite 19, San Francisco, CA 94104; eweedmondson@gmail.com; Drew Kintzinger, 2400 M St. NW, Apt. 914, Washington, DC 20037; akintzinger@hunton.com